Dhaka: Bangladesh has expressed its readiness to join any regional or global effort to address human trafficking by sea in the Indian Ocean region in an integrated and comprehensive manner.

Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque conveyed Bangladesh’s position while addressing the special meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, according to Foreign Ministry.

‘We’re talking about human beings who are victims or potential victims. They deserve our compassion. Our collective endeavor should be to protect their lives, alleviate their sufferings and uphold their dignity,’ he said adding that to this end, Bangladesh stands ready to join any regional or global effort.

The Foreign Secretary said there is no doubt that there is little time to wait. ‘In fact, we are already late. While we grapple with the root causes, we cannot afford to let the traffickers win over us.’

He said as the present case indicates, they are pitted against an organized transnational criminal network that has acquired the capacity to challenge our national efforts. ‘We shall succeed in dismantling this network only when we coordinate our efforts across the entire spectrum at sources, during transit and at destinations.’

The Foreign Secretary said all must intensify regional cooperation in all sincerity and determination.

‘There appears to be strong political will to find an effective, comprehensive and sustainable solution to address all forms of irregular movements and human trafficking in the region,’ Haque said adding that this meeting is a test case of our resolve to translate this will into a meaningful and far-reaching outcome.

The Foreign Secretary said Bangladesh is deeply concerned over the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in the Indian Ocean. ‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Government considers this to be a direct challenge to our ‘zero tolerance’ approach to human trafficking.’

He said Bangladesh is determined to go all the way to stop and reverse this trend. ‘It is perhaps time for us to say ‘enough is enough’.’

The UN Secretary General has recently urged the regional countries to address the root causes of the current exodus in the region.

‘If we read through the international headlines, the message seems to be writ large on the wall. We must demonstrate the courage to deal with the underlying root causes for decisive and long lasting solutions to the challenge before us,’ said the Foreign Secretary.